Chapter 338: Li Haiqin’s True Thoughts

“Punishment? Of course, there will be punishment!”

The Elder’s gaze was like lightning, its cold glint making a chill run down Chu Fan’s spine.

Chu Fan stood there with his head bowed, his posture one of utmost respect.

“If you are to be punished, why are you not kneeling?” the Elder demanded coldly.

“Huo Er’s knees bend only for the White Wolf King. If the Patriarch wishes to punish me, then punish me. If Huo Er cries out even once, he is no son of the Grassland.”

Although Chu Fan’s head was bowed, he spoke these words with unwavering integrity.

The old steward, listening from the side, trembled with fear.

A murderous glint flashed in the Elder’s eyes, but after a long moment, he burst out laughing.

He clapped Chu Fan on the shoulder a few times, shot the old steward a look, and walked straight through the Moon Gate.

Once the Elder had left, the old steward walked over to Chu Fan and stood beside him.

“You’re from the Kovot Family?”

“Yes, senior!”

“I’m actually from the Komoso Clan. I, too, was once a Guard Captain for the Lindi Clan.”

Chu Fan didn’t quite understand what he was getting at, so he didn’t reply.

“Whether it’s the Kovot Family or the Komoso Clan, loyalty to our master is engraved in our very bones. It is our path to survival.”

From this, Chu Fan understood the old steward’s meaning. It was a warning.

Chu Fan lifted his head, turned to face the old steward, and said, “The warriors of the Kovot Family are loyal to only one person in their lifetime. Since coming to the Lindi Clan, I have been a member of the Little Princess’s Guard Team. Therefore, aside from the White Wolf King, I am loyal only to the Little Princess.”

The old steward grew awkward, and his tone became a little sterner. “The Little Princess is the Patriarch’s granddaughter. You should be loyal to the entire Lindi Clan.”

“No, Old Steward, you’re mistaken. The Lindi Clan may be noble, but which of the great clans isn’t filled with deception and intrigue? Take this time, for instance. The Eldest Young Master wants to marry the Little Princess off to the Hanmo Clan. All I can do is protect the Little Princess.”

Chu Fan’s meaning was also clear: wasn’t the Eldest Young Master’s motive for marrying the Little Princess to the Hanmo Clan just to gain more leverage in the internal power struggle?

Little Princess Li Haiqin was the daughter of the old Patriarch’s third son. The old Patriarch held an official post in Han City, so the Eldest Young Master managed most of the clan’s affairs. However, this did not guarantee he would be the one to inherit the position of Patriarch.

This all involved a struggle for power and profit.

“But you must understand, the old Patriarch is the one in charge of the Lindi Clan right now. With a single word from him, your family and your relatives could all die because of you.”

“Old Steward, are you saying all this just because I didn’t kowtow to the old Patriarch?” Chu Fan said stubbornly.

The old steward felt it was impossible to get through to Huo Er. With a flick of his sleeve in anger, he let out a cold snort.

Chu Fan pursed his lips and said, “It doesn’t matter who is in charge of the Lindi Clan. Since I am the Little Princess’s Guard, I will only listen to the Little Princess. As for kowtowing, ever since I began my Cultivation, I have pledged myself to the White Wolf King. In this life, I will kneel only to the White Wolf King.”

As they were speaking, the sound of crying came from the side courtyard.

Then, Chu Fan saw the old Patriarch storm out of the courtyard, fuming. When he reached Chu Fan, he ordered, “Watch over your young mistress. If anything, and I mean anything, goes wrong, I will hold you solely responsible.”

After speaking, he led the old steward toward the main courtyard.

Hearing the old Patriarch’s words, the corner of Chu Fan’s mouth tilted up in a smile. After the old Patriarch left, Chu Fan walked directly toward the Moon Gate.

“How dare you! You’re a male Guard, yet you dare to enter the rear courtyard? Do you have a death wish?” a Maid shouted angrily when she saw Chu Fan enter.

“I am acting on the Patriarch’s orders to watch over the young mistress and ensure nothing happens to her,” Chu Fan said righteously.

Once Chu Fan said this, the Maid didn’t dare say another word.

However, after entering the courtyard, Chu Fan didn’t stop. He walked directly toward Li Haiqin’s chambers.

The four Maids standing at the door shouted at him even more furiously.

“Insolence! Halt at once!”

“First, I am under the Patriarch’s orders to watch the young mistress. Second, I may have a way to help the Little Princess get her heart’s desire,” Chu Fan said loudly.

The first half of his sentence was for the Maids, but the second half was for Li Haiqin, who was crying inside the room.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Li Haiqin responded from within. “Let him in.”

A Maid pushed the door open and made way. Chu Fan smiled at the Maids and walked right in.

“Was what you just said true?” Li Haiqin’s eyes were still red, and tears still stained her cheeks.

Here in her own chambers, she was of course not wearing her curtained veil.

Unlike the rough skin of most women on the Grassland, Li Haiqin’s complexion was fair. One couldn’t describe it as “skin as smooth as jade,” but it was definitely fairer and more delicate than most.

Her features were distinct, as if carved, and unlike the women of the Eastern and Central Domains, she possessed an exotic allure. She was also very tall, at most only two inches (five centimeters) shorter than Chu Fan.

Compared to Yun Xi and Leng Yingxue, she was less delicate and more resolute. But it was this extra bit of fortitude that gave her an overall aura that didn’t lose out to Yun Xi or Leng Yingxue by much, and she was fully on par with Wen Chan.

Chu Fan cupped his fist and said, “I am the Princess’s Guard. It is my duty to help you with your troubles.”

“Then tell me, how can you help me get my heart’s desire?”

“If I’m not mistaken, not even the old Patriarch can stop your marriage to Jisierk, can he? What I want to know is this: do you not want to marry him simply because of his bad reputation? Or is it because you already love someone else?”

“Either way, I don’t want to marry him. What’s the difference?” Li Haiqin asked.

Li Haiqin was, after all, only fifteen, an age like a budding flower. She yearned for love but was ultimately still naive. She certainly didn’t know that unrequited love is a common part of life. How many things in this world don’t go as one wishes?

In a sense, the process of growing up is a process of constant compromise.

After all, she had grown up in the palm of the old Patriarch’s hand—a hothouse flower that had yet to experience the wind and rain.

Chu Fan felt a pang of guilt for taking advantage of such an inexperienced girl. After all, she was only a few years older than Ni Cailing and Wen Ang, wasn’t she?

‘Let’s see what this Little Princess’s character is like first. If she’s kind and decent, I’ll leave you a way out and even grant you a bright future,’ he sighed inwardly.

Then he said, “Of course there’s a difference. If you don’t want to marry him just because of his bad reputation, we can make the marriage a sham, in name only. If you already have someone you love, then we’ll need to plan for the long term. But for that to happen, Princess, you’ll need to tell me who it is you love, so I can figure out what to do next.”

“I just don’t want to marry Jisierk. His reputation is only part of it. The main reason is that it’s too far. Once I marry him, I’ll never be able to see my father and mother again for the rest of my life. And what’s more, I don’t want to become a pawn in my Eldest Uncle’s struggle for power.”

“Princess, why don’t you change your clothes? I’ll accompany you for a walk around the city. Once you’re in a better mood, we can discuss this matter properly.”

“You really have a way?”

“You are the apple of the eye of the Elder of the Lindi Clan, one of the Eight Golden Families. You are doted on by everyone. Wouldn’t it be perfectly normal for you to be a little arrogant and domineering?” Chu Fan said in a tempting tone.

“Then… how do I be arrogant and domineering?” Li Haiqin asked, a little bewildered.